To limit the spread of pathogens and prevent infection:
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Exercise.
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cough and sneeze into tissues or your elbow.
- Dispose of used tissues promptly and then clean your hands.
- Stay away from those who are sick.
- Do not shake hands.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth to avoid infecting yourself.
- Wear a surgical mask around others, if desired.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others outside your home.
To limit the spread of pathogens and prevent infection when a household member is sick:
- Keep the sick household member home from work and/or school.
- Follow the previous prevention habits in addition to the following suggestions.
- Isolate the sick person, if possible.
- Avoid sharing anything including pens, towels, sheets, food, and eating utensils.
- Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, telephones, computers, remote controls, toys, and other surfaces commonly touched with disinfectant wipes, cleaners, or bleach solution daily.
- Make disinfecting bleach solution for hard non-porous surfaces by mixing 1/4 cup liquid bleach in one gallon of water. Allow 5 to 6 minutes contact time. Rinse food contact surfaces, such as kitchen counters and tables, with potable water. Make a new solution each day. Bleach should be at least 5% sodium hypochlorite.
- Wear disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning up body fluids.
To treat fever:
- Loosen or remove clothing.
- Sponge bathe or bathe the person in cool water.
- Give acetaminophen in the correct amount.
- Give liquids often.
To treat a sore throat:
- Gargle with warm saltwater (1 teaspoon salt per cup warm water) once each hour.
- Drink hot drinks or soups. Be cautious not to make it hot enough to burn.
- Slowly suck on throat lozenges or hard candy.
To treat a dry cough:
- Drink a mixture of honey and hot water or lemon juice. Do not give to infants less than 1 year old.
- For nighttime coughs use buckwheat honey. Use 1/2 teaspoon for children 2 to 5 years, 1 teaspoon for ages 6 to 11 years and 2 teaspoons for ages 12 and older.
- Slowly suck on cough drops or hard candy.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Use a cough suppressant only if the cough is preventing sleep.
Watch for signs of dehydration anytime there is an illness that causes high fever, vomiting, or diarrhea and begin treatment immediately. Signs of dehydration are:
- Severe thirst
- Gently pinched skin does not retract
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Irritability
- Dark yellow urine
- Little or no urine for 8 hours
- Dry mouth and sticky saliva
- Sunken eyes
- No tears
- Tiredness or weakness
- Convulsions or seizures
- Rapid loss of weight
To treat dehydration, stop fluid loss and gradually replace lost fluids.
- Do not eat any solid food for several hours after vomiting or diarrhea begins. Take small, very frequent sips of water or a rehydration drink during the first 24 hours (up to 1 tablespoon for adults, less for children, every 10-15 minutes).
- When vomiting or diarrhea is controlled, drink water, broth, or rehydration drinks in small amounts until the stomach can handle more. Drinking too much too soon can cause vomiting to reoccur.
- For infants and children younger than 4 years old, begin giving small amounts of a children’s rehydration drink as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins.
- Feed small children slowly, preferably with a teaspoon. Children under age two should have 1/4 to 1/2 cup each feeding. Feed after each episode of diarrhea. Older children should be fed 1/2 to 1 cup each feeding.
- If children will not drink the rehydration drink because it is too salty, either add a small amount of sugar-free flavored gelatin or reduce the salt so that the solution is no saltier than tears.
- Rehydration drinks will help the body recover faster than plain water. Sugar is vital for the absorption of the mineral salts but too much sugar can contribute to diarrhea. Sodium and potassium are necessary for electrolyte balance in the body but too much salt can cause convulsions in extreme cases. Baking soda (a bicarbonate) will aid in restoring the pH balance in the body. Be sure to make homemade solutions with exactness. (See “Rehydration Drinks”)
- Adults and large children should drink at least 3 quarts of rehydration drink a day until they are well.
- When the patient is able to eat, begin with the foods listed on the “Supplies and Medications” page. Avoid spicy, fatty, high fiber, or very sweet foods for 3 days after vomiting and/or diarrhea end.
REFERENCES: PandemicFlu.gov; Kaiser Permanente; MayoClinic.org; Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine; Rehydration Project; American Red Cross; Journal of the American Medical Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.clorox.com/